Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had announced the launch of the ambitious South Asian satellite project two years back. But the current scenario seems like the project is likely to miss the deadline as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and will launch GSLV Mark III instead in December.
A senior official official said, “ISRO has been launching at least one satellite every month, so our calendar is perennially packed and at this point of time it looks difficult to launch the South Asian satellite in December. It could get delayed by a month”. Talking about the positive side the launching of GSLV Mark III and will be a crucial development in the country’s space history. The launch vehicle is expected to be sent in the space by December end.
A.S. Kirankumar the I.S.R.O chairman and department of space said that work on GSLV Mark III is in progress but the date for the launch it not yet announced. The project will help ISRO launch satellites weighing around four tonnes. At present I.S.R.O has a capacity of launching satellites weighing up to 2.2 tonnes. It launched two satellites in Septemebr and is expected that October will see a launch of two more satellites.
ISRO had conducted the first experimental mission of Scramjet Engine on August 28, 2016. Kirankumar added that they are working on the South Asian Satellite project but no date has been finalized for launch. During the regional block’s 2014 summit in Kathmandu, Prime Minister Modi had announced the launch of the SAARC satellite as a gift to its neighbours so as to expand information sharing and connectivity with the region. On the other hand the move was opposed by Pakistan and demanded that the satellite be brought under the ambit of grouping.
Photo Credits: newsdog
